A small group of protesters gathered outside Hong Kong's British consulate on Friday to accuse the former colonial power of failing to stop China from wielding undue influence over elections and threatening freedoms guaranteed in a joint treaty.

Hong Kong police clashed with pro-democracy demonstrators Wednesday after a small group tried to break into the city's legislature, as splits emerged within the movement before the expected clearance of protest camps.

Hong Kong authorities on Tuesday cleared part of the city's main pro-democracy protest camp, the first of several planned evictions to shrink mass sit-ins that have blocked major thoroughfares for seven weeks.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the U.S. had no role in fostering pro-democracy protests that have shut down parts of Hong Kong for six weeks, denying allegations in Chinese state media.